Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why its Environment and Rural Affairs Department has changed the system of payment for services rendered in the inspection of seed potatoes from payment on account to payment up front and what consultation was carried out with seed potato growers in advance of this change.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Agricultural Science Agency is responsible for the operation of the Seed Potato Classification Scheme in Scotland. I have asked Dr Robert Hay, Chief Executive of the agency, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Agricultural Science Agency has not changed its system of payment for seed potato inspection services. The Seed Potatoes (Fees) Regulations 1993 require that all fees relating to seed potato inspections be paid in advance of the inspections. However, to facilitate trade, the agency extends credit facilities for the inspection of seed potato tubers and the provision of seed potato labels to customers who meet certain criteria. These credit facilities may be withdrawn from customers who do not settle their accounts within a reasonable time.

Agriculture

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency has changed the system of payment for the sale of seed potato plantlets from payment on account to payment up front and what consultation was carried out with seed potato growers in advance of this change.

Ross Finnie: I have asked Dr Robert Hay, Chief Executive of the agency, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Agricultural Science Agency has not changed the system of payment for the sale of seed potato plantlets. The usual procedure is for payment to be requested following dispatch of the plantlets, with payment due within 30 days of the date of the invoice. These credit facilities may be withdrawn from customers who do not settle their accounts within a reasonable time.

Air Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the Civil Aviation Authority regarding the economic impact on travellers and the cost of flights from Scotland as a result of the increased landing charges at Heathrow Airport.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive does not plan to make representations to the Civil Aviation Authority about landing charges at Heathrow Airport.

Alcohol Misuse

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will evaluate drink-driving rehabilitation programmes as a method of educating those found guilty of drink-driving.

Mr Jim Wallace: The statutory scheme of drink-drive rehabilitation courses is a reserved matter. The Department for Transport, which administers the scheme, has commissioned research into the operation of these courses and their effectiveness in discouraging reoffending since the creation of a permanent scheme in January 2000. The research will cover Scotland and the Scottish Executive will have access to the results of that evaluation as soon as they are available. Monitoring of the pilot scheme, which ended in 1999, found that those offenders who had attended a course were between two and three times less likely to re-offend than those who had not.

Ambulance Service

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest response times are for ambulances responding to emergency calls in Carnoustie and the rest of the Angus area.

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of emergency category A responses has been within eight minutes in each NHS board area since the introduction of priority-based dispatch.

Malcolm Chisholm: The priority-based dispatch system is scheduled to be rolled out across Scotland by 2004. The system was introduced into the south east of Scotland on 1 August 2002, and into the Tayside area on 30 September. Officials from the Scottish Executive’s Health Department are currently in discussion with the Scottish Ambulance Service about the frequency to which performance information should be published. In the past, the service in its annual report has published such information once a year.

Anti-Social Behaviour

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBO) has been issued to control unacceptable conduct in retail outlets in the last year.

Mr Jim Wallace: While ASBOs can be used to address anti-social behaviour wherever it occurs, research commissioned by the Executive into the use of ASBOs suggests that, in the period 1 December 2000 to 30 November 2001, no ASBOs have been issued specifically to control anti-social conduct in retail outlets. This is the latest information held centrally.

Care of Elderly People

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to increase the proportion of older people in the (a) Argyll and Bute and (b) West Dunbartonshire local authority area that are able to live independently by increasing home care opportunities since 1997.

Mr Frank McAveety: Councils’ expenditure on home care services is funded through the general local government settlement. Between 1997-98 and 2001-02, Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire Councils' net expenditure on home care services increased by 26% to £3.7million and by 28% to £3.0 million respectively.

  The following tables show the number of clients in receipt of care at home in each of these areas from 1997.

  Argyll and Bute Home Care Clients

  
 Year
No. of Clients No. 
of Clients over 65  1997
1,033 855
 1998 1,007
906  1999
949 814
 2000 972
829  2001
927 786
 2002 957
827 

  Source: SEHD H1 Home Care Return.

  West Dunbartonshire Home Care Clients

  
 Year
No. of Clients No. 
of Clients over 65  1997
1,641 1,490
 1998 1,699
1,449  1999
1,760 1,388
 2000 1,767
1,387  2001
1,558 1,244
 2002 1,647
1,300 

  Source: SEHD H1 Home Care Return.

Care of Elderly People

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £250 million for free personal care and nursing care was allocated to (a) Argyll and Bute Council and (b) West Dunbartonshire Council.

Mr Frank McAveety: Argyll and Bute Council was allocated £2.655 million for 1 July 2002 to 31 March 2003 and £3.547 million for 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.

  West Dunbartonshire Council was allocated £1.591 million for 1 July 2002 to 31 March 2003 and £2.101 million for 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.

Community Safety

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many community safety partnerships there are currently in the Dumbarton parliamentary constituency and when each partnership was established.

Hugh Henry: Each local authority area has a community safety partnership. Therefore there are two partnerships in the Dumbarton parliamentary constituency area, one led by Argyll and Bute Council and the other led by West Dunbartonshire Council.

  The community safety partnership in Argyll and Bute was established on 4 June 1999. The West Dunbartonshire community safety partnership was established on 22 January 1999.

Concessionary Travel

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why concessionary bus pass holders cannot travel into another local authority area using their pass without making a further payment.

Lewis Macdonald: The conditions of carriage for concessionary fares schemes, including rules on cross-boundary travel, are subject to contractual arrangements between transport authorities and bus operators. Certain schemes permit cross-boundary travel to a limited number of approved destinations at a concessionary or free fare. The decision on whether to offer this benefit, however, is for the local transport authority to make in relation to each particular scheme.

Crime

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-33055 by Hugh Henry on 5 February 2003, what submissions were made in the Scottish response to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report specifically about links between homophobia and racism.

Hugh Henry: No submissions were made in the Scottish response to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report specifically about links between homophobia and racism.

Crime

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many speed cameras have been maliciously damaged in the last six months; whether it will seek to have such cameras reinstated as soon as possible, and what action is being taken on claims made by the Motorists Against Detection group.

Mr Jim Wallace: In the last six months, six camera sites in Scotland have been decommissioned for a period of time following malicious damage. Five of these have already been reinstated, and the sixth is awaiting repair.

  Anyone found interfering with a safety camera can expect to be arrested, charged and reported to the procurator fiscal’s office.

Crime

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many recorded offences of (a) breach of the peace and (b) petty assault there were in 2001, broken down by local authority area.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is given in the following table:

  
 Local Authority
Number of Cases of Breach of the Peace Recorded
Number of Cases of Petty Assault Recorded 
Aberdeen City 3,826
3,222  Aberdeenshire
2,431 1,752
 Angus 1,240
994  Argyll and 
Bute 1,722
566  Clackmannanshire
674 508
 Dumfries and Galloway
1,423 1,073
 Dundee City
2,714 1,829
 East Ayrshire
1,658 1,149
 East Dunbartonshire
772 516
 East Lothian
521 785
 East Renfrewshire
522 322
 Edinburgh, City of
3,658 7,167
 Eilean Siar
254 131
 Falkirk
1,952 1,484
 Fife 3,954
3,421  Glasgow, 
City of 16,077
9,836  Highland
3,733 1,982
 Inverclyde
1,380 888
 Midlothian
611 918
 Moray 1,945
982  North Ayrshire
1,868 1,138
 North Lanarkshire
5,093 3,181
 Orkney Island
157 86
 Perth and Kinross
1,288 944
 Renfrewshire
2,146 1,829
 Scottish Borders
931 1,021
 Shetland Islands
159 95
 South Ayrshire
1,359 908
 South Lanarkshire
4,614 2,598
 Stirling 
1,166 756
 West Dunbartonshire
1,546 932
 West Lothian
1,207 1,857
 All Scotland
72,601 54,870

Crime Prevention

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to reduce crime rates in disadvantaged areas in the (a) Argyll and Bute and (b) West Dunbartonshire local authority area since 1996.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive has actively encouraged the establishment of community safety partnerships led by the local authority and the police and involving the public, private and voluntary bodies to tackle community safety issues at a local level. Community Safety Partnerships are encouraged to focus on the main themes of improved crime prevention; tackling alcohol and drug related crime; changing attitudes and modifying behaviour; diverting young people away from criminal and anti-social behaviour, and reducing the fear of crime.

  Crime prevention spend by the Scottish Executive in Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire is outlined in the answer given to question S1W-33835 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search..

  Both council areas also benefit from Better Neighbourhood Services Fund (BNSF) and Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) funding.

  Under BNSF Argyll and Bute has been awarded £2.7 million and West Dunbartonshire has been awarded £9 million over a three-year period 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04. Although the Local Outcome Agreements for neither area are specifically aimed at preventing crime, Argyll and Bute do include activities aimed at reducing the fear of crime among older people and West Dunbartonshire is providing a range of information, services and activities for young people to make it less likely that they will become involved in crime.

  Since 1997 the Argyll and Bute SIP has funded various crime prevention projects totalling £204,000. Although in West Dunbartonshire few project allocations by the SIP have been for direct crime prevention work, they have provided £1 million funding for projects which have an impact on crime prevention and reduction, such as young person's befriending schemes, action against vandalism, domestic violence, crimestoppers, youth diversion schemes and other similar schemes.

Crime Prevention

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on crime prevention by (a) central government, (b) Argyll and Bute Council and (c) West Dunbartonshire Council in each year since 1997.

Hugh Henry: Spend by a local authority on crime prevention is a matter for that local authority. The information is not held centrally.

  Under the Make our Communities Safer Challenge Competition, which ended in March 2002, the awards detailed in the following tables were made:

  Argyll and Bute

  
 1996-97
Campbeltown Town Centre CCTVDunoon Town Centre CCTVHelensburgh 
Town Centre CCTV £11,700£76,288£23,544
 1997-98
Oban Town Centre CCTV £71,000
 1998-99
Rothesay Town Centre CCTV £63,300
 1999-2000 
£0  2000-01
Campbeltown CCTV £9,500
 2001-02
Dunoon New Community Schools £8,100


  West Dunbartonshire

  
 1996-97
Clydebank Town Centre CCTV £108,490
 1997-98
Clydebank Town Centre CCTVDumbarton CCTV
£27,000£63,000 
1998-99 
£0  1999-2000
Dumbarton Town Centre CCTV £160,000
 2000-01
New Bonhill CCTV £140,000
 2001-02
Clydebank Trust CCTVYouth Shelters
£129,440£18,500 

  On 1 April 2002, we introduced a new Community Safety Partnership Award Programme for all council-led Community Safety Partnerships. For 2002-03, Argyll and Bute Community Safety Partnership were awarded £84,127 to address local community safety priorities, West Dunbartonshire Community Safety Partnership were awarded £118,491.

Dentistry

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has offered to Grampian NHS Board to attract dentists to take up community practice in the board’s area.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive has introduced a number of measures to recruit and retain dentists within NHS general dental services. These include the availability of grants under the Scottish Dental Access Initiative for dentists wishing to set up or expand NHS practices in areas of poor access or high oral health need and a package of recruitment and retention measures. The recruitment and retention package includes payments to vocational trainees taking up vocational training in designated areas, including Grampian, and payments to dentists entering substantive general dental practice in designated areas within three months of completion of training.

Discrimination

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-33055 by Hugh Henry on 5 February 2003, whether it has ever established a working group on discrimination and whether it intends to set one up.

Hugh Henry: The Executive does not have a single working group on discrimination. However, we have established a number of working groups which have considered aspects of discrimination for particular groups. For example, the Race Equality Advisory Forum considered issues of discrimination for minority ethnic communities in Scotland; we have established a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) health discussion forum which is considering access to primary health care for LGBT people, and we recently announced the creation of a new independent group to examine what more the Executive should do to improve opportunities for women.

  In addition, the Executive is in regular contact with a range of minority groups and equality organisations.

Drug Misuse

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the monetary value is of drugs seized by the L Division of Strathclyde Police and the Scottish Drugs Enforcement Agency since the inception of the policy to reinvest assets recovered from illegal drug dealing.

Hugh Henry: During 2001-02, the estimated street value of controlled drugs seized in all operations involving the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (including those involving Scottish police forces) was £19.9 million. Equivalent figures for individual divisions of police forces are only available on a calendar year basis. The estimated street value of controlled drugs seized by L Division of Strathclyde Police in the calendar years 2001 and 2002 was £686,000. The estimated value of drugs seized is of course different from the value of assets recovered.

Drug Misuse

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any assets seized from illegal drug dealing have been redistributed to the (a) West Dunbartonshire and (b) Argyll and Bute local authority area.

Hugh Henry: None of the recovered criminal assets we have redistributed so far have been provided specifically to West Dunbartonshire or Argyll and Bute.

  However, £180,000 from recovered criminal assets has been earmarked to support families across Scotland affected by drug misuse. A national network of family support groups is being established, and this is being driven by a steering group of family members. This will determine, in due course, how these resources can best be used to support the families of drug misusers, including those in West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute.

Drug Misuse

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it has undertaken, or plans to undertake, to tackle drug misuse in the (a) Dumbarton parliamentary constituency, (b) Argyll and Bute local authority area and (c) West Dunbartonshire local authority area and how much money has been allocated to each area for this purpose.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive’s drugs strategy, Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership ,   is backed by around £130 million in new resources for 2001-02 to 2003-04. All areas of Scotland have benefited from these additional resources in terms of new drug treatment and rehabilitation services, improved support for young people and families, improved treatment provision in prisons, more criminal justice interventions, strengthened enforcement activity, enhanced drugs education in schools and in the community and better improved information on drugs.

  However, the planning and delivery of local activities and initiatives is the responsibility of local drug action teams and partner agencies. drug action teams are required to report to the Scottish Executive on actions undertaken and planned in their annual corporate action plans. These can be found on the national drugs website at www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org The plans show evidence of enhanced service provision in the areas requested, particularly in terms of services for vulnerable young people, the further development of integrated services, and the provision of training and employment opportunities for recovering drug users. A Drug Treatment and Testing Order has also recently come into operation in the Argyll and Clyde area.

  Information on drug-related expenditure is not held on a constituency basis. The main components of drugs specific expenditure allocated to NHS boards and local authorities in the areas requested is outlined in the following tables. The areas may also be benefiting from other resources which are not drug specific, but which impact on the problem.

  Drug Treatment

  
 NHS Board
2001-02(£000)
2002-03(£000)
2003-04(£000) 
Argyll and Clyde 1,111
1,338 1,338
 Greater Glasgow
4,387 4,488
4,488 

  Rehabilitation

  
 Council Area
2001-02(£000)
2002-03(£000)
2003-04(£000) 
Argyll and Bute 119
119 119
 West Dunbartonshire
126 126
126 

  Drugs Education in Schools

  
 Council Area
2001-02(£000)
2002-03(£000) 
Argyll and Bute  17.5
17.5  West Dunbartonshire
 21 21


  Changing Children’s Services Fund (for work with young people and families)

   
Council Area 2001-02 to 
2003-04(£000) 
Argyll and Bute 259
 West Dunbartonshire
510

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education would operate in Scotland.

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation permits inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education to operate in Scotland.

Cathy Jamieson: Inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education would operate in Scotland if Scottish ministers were to exercise their power under section 66 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 to appoint persons other than HM Inspectorate of Education to conduct inspections.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given any permission for inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education to work in Scotland and, if so, what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Cathy Jamieson: Inspections of educational provision in Scotland are conducted by HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE). HMIE has on occasion invited inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education to accompany them in an advisory or observational capacity.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government about any use of inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education to inspect education provision for refugee children and whether any presence of these inspectors conforms with the letter and spirit of current educational legislation in Scotland and with the devolution settlement.

Cathy Jamieson: The inspection of education provision for refugee children in Scotland has been conducted by HM Inspectorate of Education.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements will be made to ensure that any inspection undertaken by the Office for Standards in Education conforms to Scottish practice and procedure given the different inspection regimes in place in Scotland and in England.

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures it will follow to enable parliamentary scrutiny of any reports on educational provision in Scotland by inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education.

Cathy Jamieson: Inspections of educational provision in Scotland are not carried out by inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education.

Fire Service

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve community fire safety.

Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32872 on 15 January 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search ..

Genealogy

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to request the service records of Scottish armed forces personnel from the Ministry of Defence archive at Hayes, Middlesex, for archiving in Scotland for the purposes of genealogical research and as part of its cultural strategy and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Mr Jim Wallace: No. Service records are entirely a matter for the UK Government.

Health

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS operations have been cancelled at less than one (a) day’s and (b) week’s notice due to lack of bed space in each hospital in each NHS board area in the last 12 months and how many surgeons have been affected as a result of such cancellations.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on the number of operations cancelled by NHSScotland is not available. However, data is collected centrally on the number of planned admissions to hospital for in-patient/day case treatment (including non-surgical treatment) which are cancelled. This information for the year ended 31 March 2002, in each hospital in each NHS board area, is given in the table. No information is available on reasons for cancellation or on the implications for NHS staff or on the period of notice.

  NHSScotland - Cancellations1,2 of Planned Admissions to Hospital for In-patient or Day Case Treatment, by Hospital. Year Ended 31 March 2002.

  
 Hospital 
Number of Cancellations 
Argyll and Clyde 
Inverclyde Royal Hospital  
 173  Lorn and 
Islands District Gen Hospital  
NIL  Royal Alexandra 
Hospital
791  Vale of Leven District General 
Hospital
121  Victoria Hospital  
 5  Ayrshire 
and Arran  Ayrshire Central Hospital 
 7  Crosshouse 
Hospital   
213  The Ayr Hospital 
 103  Borders
 Borders General Hospital 
 348  Dumfries 
and Galloway  Dumfries and Galloway 
Royal Infirmary 
 98  Fife
 Forth Park Hospital 
 90  Queen Margaret 
Hospital
587  Victoria Hospital  
 298  Forth 
Valley  Falkirk and District Royal 
Infirmary  
 252  Stirling 
Royal Infirmary  
 478  Grampian
 Aberdeen Royal Infirmary  
 1,299  Aboyne 
Hospital
4  Campbell Hospital  
NIL  Chalmers Hospital 
  NIL
 Dr Gray's Hospital  
 301  Fraserburgh 
Hospital   NIL
 Glen O'Dee Hospital  
NIL  Inverurie 
Hospital   NIL
 Jubilee Hospital  
NIL  Maud Hospital 
   
2  Peterhead Community Hospital 
  NIL
 Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital  
 97  Spynie Hospital 
   
7  Turner Memorial Hospital  
NIL  Turriff Cottage 
Hospital
16  Woodend General Hospital  
 63  Greater 
Glasgow  Canniesburn Hospital  
 343  Glasgow Royal 
Infirmary  
 1,822  Royal Hospital 
for Sick Children  
 170  Southern 
General Hospital  
483  Stobhill Hospital 
   
712  Victoria Infirmary  
 1,298  Western 
Infirmary/Gartnavel General 
 831  Highland
 Belford Hospital  
 29  Caithness 
General Hospital  
 6  Lawson Memorial 
Hospital
22  Mackinnon Memorial Hospital 
   
28  Raigmore Hospital  
 924  Ross Memorial 
Hospital  NIL
 Lanarkshire 
Hairmyres Hospital  
 266  Law Hospital 
   
2  Monklands Hospital  
 102  Stonehouse 
Hospital   NIL
 Wishaw General Hospital  
 98  Lothian
 City Hospital  
 98  New Royal 
Infirmary of Edinburgh  
 2  Princess Margaret 
Rose Hospital 
 137  Royal Hospital 
for Sick Children  
 80  Royal Infirmary 
of Edinburgh  
 790  St John's 
Hospital At Howden 
 366  Western General 
Hospital   
740  Orkney
 Balfour Hospital  
 7  Shetland
 Gilbert Bain Hospital  
 34  Tayside
 Dundee Royal Infirmary  
NIL  Ninewells 
Hospital
868  Perth Royal Infirmary  
 323  Stracathro 
Hospital
96  Western Isles
 Western Isles Hospital 
 25 

  Source: ISD Scotland.

  Notes:

  1. Cancellation by hospital of planned in-patient and day case admissions from the "true" waiting list.

  2. The following specialties are excluded: obstetrics, psychiatric, learning disability and geriatric long-stay.

Health

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many adverse incidents regarding the use of Factor VIII and Factor IX blood products in the treatment of haemophiliacs were reported in each year from 1970 to 1987.

Mr Frank McAveety: The number of adverse incidents relating to the use of SNBTS Factor VIII and Factor IX concentrates reported to SNBTS between the years 1970 to 1987 are as follows:

  
  Factor 
VIII Factor IX 
1970 0
0  1971
0 0
 1972 0
0  1973
0 0
 1974 0
0  1975
2 0
 1976 6
1  1977
1 3
 1978 2
0  1979
0 1
 1980 1
2  1981
1 0
 1982 1
1  1983
4 1
 1984 16
1  1985
4 0
 1986 0
0  1987
1 0
 Total 39
10

Health

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to address the increase in haemophilus influenzae (Hib) infections over the last two and a half years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Medical Officer has today written to NHSScotland providing advance notice of plans to introduce a one-off Hib vaccine booster campaign for children who will be aged between six months and four years at 1 April 2003. It also advises that additional information will be provided as soon as the start date of the campaign and other details have been finalised.

  Health professionals are asked to remain vigilant for the diseases caused by Hib infection, including meningitis, bacteraemia and epiglottitis.

  Copies of the letter have been passed to the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Housing

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected final cost is of the compensation scheme for homeowners in Ainslie Road and Maclehose Road, Cumbernauld, what bodies will be responsible for meeting this cost, and what percentage of the cost each such body will meet.

Ms Margaret Curran: The overall cost of the compensation element of the package and the contributions to that cost are the subject of continuing discussions and will depend on the housing needs of the homeowners involved.

Housing

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid in each of the last five years to registered social landlords in grants under section 54 of the Housing Act 1988 to offset corporation tax liabilities incurred by housing associations.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The table details the Scottish Executive’s expenditure to Registered Social Landlord’s in grants under section 54 (tax relief grants) over the last five years.

  
 Year £ 
million (per annual accounts)  2001-02
3.514  2000-01
5.077  1999-2000
5.610  1998-99
4.477  1997-98
5.923  Total
24.601

Landfill

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many landfill applications it has been notified of in each of the last five years and how many have been for landfills within 3 km of existing settlements.

Ross Finnie: Planning consent for landfill is a matter for local authorities, and operational permits are a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Planning applications are not automatically notifiable to the Scottish ministers for the sole reason that they relate to landfill sites, but may be notified because of a variety of other criteria.

  Five applications for planning permission for landfill sites have been notified to the Scottish ministers during the last five years. The breakdown is as follows:

  
 1998
1  1999
1  2000
0  2001
1  2002
2  2003 
to date  0


  The Scottish Executive also becomes aware of landfill applications in the event of an appeal to the Scottish ministers against a decision of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, under section 43 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The numbers of such appeals relating to landfills in the last five years are as follows:

  
 1998
2  1999
6  2000
7  2001
6  2002
3 

  Information regarding distances from settlements is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Legal Aid

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its plans for the reform of civil legal aid.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have today written to the Conveners of the Justice Committees outlining a wide-ranging package of proposed reforms, which have been agreed following intensive discussions between the Executive, the Law Society of Scotland and the Scottish Legal Aid Board. The reforms involve three key elements: a new application and reporting regime; a new block fee structure for work in the sheriff court, and the introduction of a quality assurance scheme, based on registration and peer review, to be operated jointly by the society and the board. These reforms also respond to recommendations of the Justice 1 Committee in its report on legal aid.

  Taken as a whole, the package represents real modernisation of the legal aid system. Together with changes made last year to eligibility, urgency provision, and contributions, it will be the first major change in over a decade. The reforms I propose should deliver significant benefits to all of the key stakeholders. For clients, they will create a fee structure that rewards efficient and effective conduct of cases, and ensure quality of service. For solicitors, they will deliver improved remuneration in return for modernisation. For the wider public, they should ensure an adequate supply of legal practitioners across the country. For the board and the Executive – and the Scottish taxpayer - the reforms will provide better monitoring and control of cases; and simpler, more flexible and more transparent processes which will facilitate the introduction of e-business, creating more efficiencies.

  Overall, I believe that the package marks a significant step towards a civil legal aid system that is fit for purpose for the 21st century – a system that delivers efficient and effective access to justice for people who need it.

  I intend to lay regulations on the new fee structure before Parliament for approval as quickly as possible.

Lifelong Learning

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the participation of adults in community-based learning.

Iain Gray: The Executive’s new Lifelong Learning Strategy emphasises the importance of informal community-based learning opportunities in encouraging non-traditional learners back into learning.

  On 28 January, the Scottish Executive issued guidance on community learning and development to all local authorities and their Community Planning Partners. This guidance has highlighted community-based adult learning as one of four national priorities for local community learning and development partnerships. The guidance emphasises the need for statutory and voluntary sector agencies to work together to raise standards of achievement in learning for adults, in the core skills of literacy and numeracy and in ICT, and through extending community-based vocational and non-vocational lifelong learning opportunities.

  The Scottish Executive has committed £51 million over five years to 2006 to help 150,000 adults with low literacy and numeracy skills. £40 million of this will be routed through local authorities to Community Learning Strategy Partnerships to provide a wide range of learning opportunities in local communities.

Lottery Funding

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its response to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Review of Lottery Funding: A consultation paper on Lottery distribution policy .

Dr Elaine Murray: The consultation paper on lottery distribution policy was published in July 2002 by ministers from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly. The consultation closed on 30 October 2002. Consultation responses were collected by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, with responses from Scotland being copied to the Scottish Executive. I have written to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport conveying Scottish ministers’ views in the light of the Scottish consultation responses. Copies of the letter have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 26471). There is to be a meeting of ministers from across the UK later this month to discuss a range of issues on the National Lottery. The outcome of the review of lottery funding is expected to be announced in late spring or early summer.

NHS Funding

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive by how much funding levels for the Lanarkshire NHS Board have increased in each year since 1996.

Malcolm Chisholm: Details of funding increases are as follows:

  
  £ 
million  1996-97 
21.089  1997-98 
 25.702 
1998-99  18.136
 1999-2000 
14.195  2000-01 
 36.074 
2001-02  23.165
 2002-03 
26.058 

  In addition, Lanarkshire NHS Board’s initial unified budget for 2003-04 has increased by £38.766 million over the comparable budget for 2002-03.

NHS Waiting Times

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it now holds on the average waiting time for drug treatment in each NHS board area.

Hugh Henry: Waiting time information for drug treatment is not held consistently by NHS boards. Information obtained from Drug Action Team (DAT) Corporate Action Plans on the maximum waiting times for individual care and treatment agencies in each DAT area in 2001-02 is available on the national drugs website at http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/dat/cap.htm .

  Information on waiting times for 2002-03 will be collected from DATs as part of this year’s reporting arrangements.

  The Executive is currently working with key people from DATs, lead agencies and providers on practical interventions to address waiting times and on issues related to the monitoring of waiting times.

New Deal

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Dumbarton constituency have gone into jobs from the New Deal.

Iain Gray: Constituency statistics are only available for the New Deals for young people aged 18 to 24, for the long-term unemployed aged 25 and over and for lone parents. These statistics indicate that across these three New Deals, to the end of September 2002, a total of 1,489 people had gone into jobs within the Dumbarton constituency.

Police

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers in each age band are currently serving in each police force.

Mr Jim Wallace: This information is not held centrally.

Police

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers will retire from each police force in each of the next five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The numbers of officers eligible to retire over the next five years, as supplied by Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, are shown in the following table. Information on the number of officers by force is not held centrally.

  
 2003-04
300  2004-05
373  2005-06
567  2006-07
489  2007-08
451

Police

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has done of the additional costs to police forces of the retirement of police officers over the next five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The additional costs of the retirement of police officers over the next three years were looked at as part of the 2002 Spending Review.

Police

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the pension contributions by serving police officers are, and will remain, sufficient to cover the pension payments made by police forces.

Mr Jim Wallace: The police pension scheme is funded partly by officers contributions and partly by Grant Aided Expenditure. In the 2002 Spending Review account was taken of estimated costs provided by Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and, as such, sufficient funding has been provided to fund pensions in full over the next three years.

Police

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has earmarked any additional monies to pay the pension provision for retired and retiring police officers and, if so, how much.

Mr Jim Wallace: The following amounts have been included in police Grant Aided Expenditure calculations to meet pensions expenditure estimated by forces:

  

£ million  2003-04
128  2004-05
143  2005-06
171

Police

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether each police force has targets for the recruitment and retention of special constables and whether any such targets are being met.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for each police force. While no national targets relating to the Special Constabulary have been set by the Scottish Executive, Scottish ministers have made clear their desire to see an increase in the number of special constables.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what fine the operators of HM Prison Kilmarnock are liable for as a result of the concerted indiscipline that occurred there on or between 29 and 31 January 2003.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  There is no provision for fines in the arrangements for operating Kilmarnock prison. Investigations into the alleged incident are on-going.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many performance points have been accrued under the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock by the operators of HM Prison Kilmarnock as a result of the concerted indiscipline there on or between 29 and 31 January 2003.

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any performance points will accrue directly or indirectly to the operators of HM Prison Kilmarnock for the fire at the prison reported in the Sunday Mail on 19 January 2003 and what the reasons are for the position on the matter.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Investigations into the incident are still on-going. They will inform discussions between the Scottish Prison Service and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited about any performance point issues.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many officers from Strathclyde Police intervened during the concerted indiscipline that occurred at HM Prison Kilmarnock on or between 29 and 31 January 2003.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for the force and information of this sort is not held centrally.

  Police forces have contingency plans, developed with partner organisations, to cover a variety of situations that may occur at key premises or installations, including each prison, within their areas. These set out individual organisational roles and responsibilities as well as the actions to be taken should a contingency response be required.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether (a) Premier Custodial Group Ltd, (b) any of its subsidiary companies and (c) any other companies that belong to the parent companies of the Premier group will be allowed to bid for the new private prison in the light of the experience of HM Prison Young Offenders Institution Ashfield and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  Yes. The SPS hopes to attract a large number of expressions of interest in bidding, which will be evaluated in accordance with EU procurement rules.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guarantees it can give that the level of violence that has occurred at HM Prison Young Offenders Institution Ashfield will not occur at HM Prison Kilmarnock.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS make every effort to ensure that good order and discipline is maintained at all prisons in Scotland including Kilmarnock.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-31088, S1W-31487 and S1W-32018 by Mr Jim Wallace on 8 November, 22 November and 10 December 2002 respectively, whether it will show the performance points accrued by the operating company of HM Prison Kilmarnock, broken down for each heading and sub-section in sections 2.1(i), 2.2(a), 2.2(b), 2.4(a), 2.4(b), 2.4(d) and 2.4(e) in Schedule F to the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock , for the quarter October to December 2002.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Performance Points to Date - Year 4, Quarter 3

  
 2.1 (i) 
Failure of Security Procedures 240
 2.2 (a)
Serious Injury 0
 Minor Injury
0  No Injury
5  2.2 
(b) Serious Injury
0  Minor Injury
60  No Injury
70  2.4 
(a) Failure to Deliver Regime Activity Hours 
(Sentenced Prisoners) (76-95%) 0
 Failure to Deliver Regime Activity Hours 
(Sentenced Prisoners) (66-75%)  0
 Failure to Deliver Regime Activity Hours 
(Sentenced Prisoners) (56-65%) 0
 Failure to Deliver Regime Activity Hours 
(Sentenced Prisoners) (Equal to or less than 55%)
0  2.4 
(b) Failure to Deliver Work Hours (Sentenced 
Prisoners) (76-95%) 40
 Failure to Deliver Work Hours (Sentenced 
Prisoners) (66-75%)  0
 Failure to Deliver Work Hours (Sentenced 
Prisoners) (56-65%) 0
 Failure to Deliver Work Hours (Sentenced 
Prisoners) (Equal to or less than 55%) 0
 2.4 (d)
Failure to Provide Structured Activity Hours (Sentenced Prisoners) (76-95%)
35  Failure to 
Provide Structured Activity Hours (Sentenced Prisoners) (66-75%) 
0  Failure to Provide 
Structured Activity Hours (Sentenced Prisoners) (56-65%)
0  Failure to Provide 
Structured Activity Hours (Sentenced Prisoners) (Equal to or less than 55%)
0  2.4 
(e) Failure to Deliver Regime Activity Hours 
for Remand Prisoners (76-95%) 0
 Failure to Deliver Regime Activity Hours 
for Remand Prisoners (76-95%) 0
 Failure to Deliver Regime Activity Hours 
for Remand Prisoners (76-95%) 0
 Failure to Deliver Regime Activity Hours 
for Remand Prisoners (76-95%) 0

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31154 by Mr Jim Wallace on 12 November 2002, what performance-related revenue deductions were incurred under the contract to operate HM Prison Kilmarnock by the prison’s operator in the quarter October to December 2002.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  £159,000.

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will process Anglo-Scottish Freight Facilities and Track Access Grants, given that the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has announced that there will be no new grants of this type in 2003-04.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive will continue to process Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) applications where they relate to facilities or traffic flows within Scotland. We will also continue to process applications which involve traffic flows between Scotland and England where the FFG funded capital expenditure is limited to Scotland. Out of 15 rail FFGs awarded since August 1997, 12 have required FFG funded capital expenditure in Scotland only.

  Similarly Track Access Grant (TAG) applications with flows entirely within Scotland will not be affected, but cross-border applications may be affected. We will work with the SRA to minimise the impact in Scotland of their decisions on FFG and TAG applications relating to facilities or traffic flows in England.

Roads

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what directions it has given Aberdeenshire Council regarding its share of the £15 million awarded to local authorities for local roads maintenance.

Lewis Macdonald: None. The additional funding which we announced for all councils on 31 January, to carry out works to local roads will form part of the overall local government settlement. Full details of the settlement will be notified to local authorities in the near future: Aberdeenshire Council’s share will be in excess of £1.1 million.

Roads

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what road safety measures it plans to put in place at accident spots on the A90 in Aberdeenshire in the next three years.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive’s annual Accident Investigation and Prevention (AIP) programme will investigate the following sites on the A90 in Aberdeenshire during 2003-04.

  A90/B9120 junction at Laurencekirk;

  Bridge of Muchalls;

  Schoolhill Junction at Portlethen, and

  A90/A956 Charlestown Interchange.

  Other low-cost road safety measures are currently being carried out at various locations, including the installation of safety cameras.

Roads

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding support it will give to Aberdeenshire Council to assist with the raising of the B974 road level at Strachan to minimise the risk of road closures caused by flooding.

Lewis Macdonald: Local roads, such as the B974 at Strachan, are the responsibility of Aberdeenshire Council as the local roads authority for the area.

  On 31 January, we announced additional funding to help all councils in Scotland carry out works to local roads and bridges. It is for councils to determine their own priorities and allocate resources accordingly.

School Transport

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why private school bus operators in Aberdeenshire were required to purchase fare recording systems when the local authority did not own any of the necessary reading equipment and where this equipment is not required on buses that accept passengers on demand.

Lewis Macdonald: I understand this is a matter for Aberdeenshire Council. Electronic ticketing machines are not required on school transport services which are contracted only to carry entitled pupils.

Schools

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the 62 New Community School Projects are situated in the (a) Argyll and Bute and (b) West Dunbartonshire local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: Two of the New Community Schools pilot projects are located in Argyll and Bute. One project covers Clyde Cottage Nursery and Dunoon, Kirn and St Mun’s Primary Schools. The other covers Campbeltown Grammar School and Carradale, Castlehill, Dalintober, Drumlemble, Gigha, Glenbar, Rhunahaorine, Southend and St Kieran’s Primary Schools.

  Two of the pilot projects are located in West Dunbartonshire. One focuses on Braidfield High School. The other covers Vale of Leven Academy, Our Lady and St Patrick’s and St Columba’s High Schools, and Bonhill, Christie Park, Gartocharn, Haldane, Highdykes, Jamestown, Ladyton, Levendale, Renton, St Eunan’s, St Joseph’s, St Kessog’s, St Martin’s, St Mary’s (Alexandria), St Mary’s (Clydebank), St Michael’s, St Patrick’s, St Peter’s, St Ronan’s and St Stephen’s Primary Schools.

Scottish Enterprise

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire in the Clydesdale parliamentary constituency (i) in total and (ii) per head of population in each year since 1996.

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire in the South Lanarkshire Council area (i) in total and (ii) per head of population in each year since 1996.

Iain Gray: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to give the Scottish Environment Protection Agency any additional powers in order to improve its ability to become more involved in the planning process, including by making objections to planning proposals.

Allan Wilson: There are no plans at present to give additional powers to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to become more involved in the planning process. SEPA is already a statutory consultee in defined circumstances under the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) (Scotland) Order 1992 with regard to planning applications. SEPA is also consulted under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999.

  SEPA’s involvement in the planning process has been examined as part of the current Policy and Financial Management Review of SEPA.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to give the Scottish Environment Protection Agency any additional powers in order to improve its ability to become more involved in environmental regulation.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has consulted on a range of proposals to give additional powers to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). These include the following proposals, many of which are described in detail in consultation papers published on the Scottish Executive website www.scotland.gov.uk/publications :

  - new powers to regulate waste incinerators more stringently;

  - new powers to control solvent-based emissions;

  - revised powers under the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000;

  - tightening of powers for permitting landfill sites;

  - revised regulation of the spreading of treated sewage sludge to land;

  - tightening of exemptions under Waste Management Licence Regulations;

  - new powers to require polluters to carry out works to prevent or clean up water pollution;

  - a range of additional powers under the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Bill to protect the water environment, including controlling activities liable to cause pollution, engineering works in the vicinity of the water environment and water abstractions, and

  - new powers to license flood prevention schemes.

  The detailed implications for SEPA will be defined in regulations in due course.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how much public funding has been allocated to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in each year since its inception.

Allan Wilson: The level of grant-in-aid awarded to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency since its inception is shown in the following table:

   
Year Allocation (£)
 2002-03
25,980,000  2001-02
23,470,000  2000-01
17,300,000  1999-2000
18,600,000  1998-99
19,836,000  1997-98
19,515,000  1996-97*
23,714,000 

  Note:

  * Covers the period 12 October 1995 to 31 March 1997.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency about the prosecution of environmental cases.

Allan Wilson: Decisions on whether to prosecute those who breach environmental legislation are entirely matters for the Crown Office and the Procurators Fiscal Service. Guidelines have been issued to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) by the Crown Office to assist the agency in reporting cases to the procurators fiscal and to address issues such as sufficiency of evidence and public interest.

  SEPA’s policy on when to recommend to the procurator fiscal that a case be brought against an offender was developed after consultation with the Scottish Executive and a wide range of stakeholders. This policy takes into account the need to punish offenders, as well as proportionality in relation to the risks posed to the environment and the seriousness of the offence. A copy of SEPA’s Policy Statement on Enforcement is available on the agency’s website at www.sepa.org.uk.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13764 by Angus MacKay on 5 April 2001, whether it will give up-to-date figures on how much was spent on new capital investment in and refurbishment of its property in each year for which figures are available, broken down by project.

Mr Andy Kerr: The cost of refurbishment* (excluding maintenance, repairs and minor works) since 1 April 1996 is shown in the table:

  
 Project
1996-97(£ million)
1997-98(£ million)
1998-99(£ million)
1999-2000(£ million)
2000-01(£ million)
2001-02(£ million)
2002-03 Estimated(£ million)
 St Andrew’s House: refurbishment  
1.26 6.26
4.20 5.86 
 Saughton House: Conversion of areas 
to provide additional staff accommodation 
0.05 0.03
0.10 0.11
0.36 0.15
 Pentland House: Conversion of areas 
to provide additional staff accommodation  
0.40  Strathearn 
House, Perth:New building fit-out  
0.65 

  Notes:

  Expenditure on refurbishment projects comprises both capital and current expenditure under present accounting rules.

  *Budgets are now set net of recoverable VAT and figures for previous years have been adjusted to take account of VAT recovered.

Scottish Executive Finance

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether housing and regeneration budgets will be affected by industrial action by fire service personnel.

Mr Andy Kerr: No.

Scottish Executive Finance

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the additional £0.5 billion announced to be spent on police forces, fire brigades and the prison services will be spent in the (a) Argyll and Bute and (b) West Dunbartonshire local authority area on the (i) police, (ii) fire service and (iii) prison service.

Mr Jim Wallace: The amount of additional funding, provided from the spending review in 2002 over the three years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06, was as follows:

  
  £ 
million  Police 
317  Fire 
72  Prisons 
15 

  The breakdown for Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire is not available as it is a matter for the relevant Chief Constable, Fire Master or Chief Executive (in conjunction with the Prison Board) to decide how much is allocated within each area. However, the amounts added to Strathclyde Police and Strathclyde Fire Brigade Grant Aided Expenditure, following the spending review were as follows.

  
  2003-04(£ 
million) 2004-05(£ 
million) 2005-06(£ 
million)  Police 
18 41
71  Fire
5 10
16

Special Advisers

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total estimated annual cost of employment of special advisors has been in each year since 1999.

Mr Andy Kerr: For figures relating to the years 1999-2000 and 2000-01, I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19765 on 20 November 2001. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .. The total actual cost for 2001-02 was £676,895. The estimated cost for the current year to end March 2003 is £602,449. Details are:

  
  Salary
Ernic Pension 
Contribution* Total
 2001-02
£581,958 £73,900
£21,038 £676,895
 2002-03 (estimated)
£485,529 £52,429
£64,491 £602,449


  Note:

  *Not all advisers had pension arrangements in place in 2001-02.

Sport

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how sport scotland and the Lottery Sports Fund will improve sport opportunities for young people in the (a) Argyll and Bute and (b) West Dunbartonshire local authority area.

Dr Elaine Murray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33868 on 17 February 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search ..

Student Finance

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time students from the (a) Argyll and Bute and (b) West Dunbartonshire local authority area received bursaries to support them at university.

Iain Gray: Young Scottish students studying full-time higher education courses in Scotland from 2001-02 are entitled to an annual Young Students' Bursary (YSB) of up to £2,050, which replaces part of their loan support. Young Scottish students studying elsewhere in the UK for the first time from 2002-03 onwards are entitled to an annual Young Students' Outside Scotland Bursary (YSO) of up to £510, which is provided in addition to their student loan entitlement. Both bursaries are provided as an entitlement based on the level of parental income and eligibility is assessed as part of the overall assessment of eligibility for student support.

  In the current academic year, to date, 21,384 YSB awards and 317 Young Students' Outside Scotland Bursary awards have been made, of whom 403 were domiciled in Argyll and Bute and 450 were domiciled in West Dunbartonshire.

  Non-repayable supplementary grants are also available for those students who have additional financial needs, such as students who have dependants or who have a disability. Additional discretionary grants are available from individual colleges and universities for new mature students with child care costs and for any student who faces particular financial difficulties, which might prevent them from accessing or continuing their course.

Student Finance

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students from low-income backgrounds from the (a) Argyll and Bute and (b) West Dunbartonshire local authority area have had their university fees waived.

Iain Gray: Tuition fees have been abolished for Scottish domiciled and EU students studying full-time higher education courses in Scotland. This support is not repayable and is available to all eligible full-time students to undertake one first degree, or comparable course of higher education, provided they have not previously undertaken such a course with assistance from public funds. This support is paid irrespective of the students' family income.

  Scottish domiciled students who study full-time higher education (HE) courses elsewhere in the UK make an annual means tested contribution of up to £1,100 towards the cost of their tuition. Such students from low-income families will, therefore, have their tuition fees paid on their behalf by SAAS.

  In the current academic year there are 2,018 undergraduate students from Argyll and Bute and 1,808 undergraduate students from West Dunbartonshire local authority area who have had their tuition fees waived.

  Scottish domiciled students who study part-time HE courses in Scotland can apply to their institution to waive their fees if they have a disability, are claiming benefits or are from a low income family. Information on the number of part-time students who have their fees waived is not held centrally.

  Students studying at institutions overseas generally do not receive tuition fee support.

Student Finance

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of recipients of access bursaries have been domiciled in the (a) Argyll and Bute Council area, (b) West Dunbartonshire Council area and (c) Dumbarton parliamentary constituency since the bursaries were introduced.

Iain Gray: Young Scottish students studying full-time higher education courses in Scotland from 2001-02 are entitled to an annual Young Students' Bursary (YSB) of up to £2,050, which replaces part of their loan support. Young Scottish students studying elsewhere in the UK for the first time from 2002-03 onwards are entitled to an annual Young Students' Outside Scotland Bursary (YSO) of up to £510, which is provided in addition to their student loan entitlement. Both bursaries are provided as an entitlement based on the level of parental income and eligibility is assessed as part of the overall assessment of eligibility for student support.

  In academic year 2001-02, there were 13,579 recipients of YSB. In the current academic year, to date, 21,384 YSB awards and 317 YSO awards have been made. The following table shows the percentage of recipients domiciled in each area since the bursaries were introduced.

   
Area % in 2001-02
% in 2002-03  (a) 
Argyll and Bute 1.80
1.86  (b) West 
Dunbartonshire 1.97
2.07  (c) Dumbarton
1.45 1.76

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliamentary Contracts

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-25368 on 9 May 2002, what consultation there has been with service users in the consideration of the contract for mail services in the new Parliament building at Holyrood

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Presiding Officer what consultation there will be with service users prior to final decisions being reached on the contract for mail services in the new Parliament building at Holyrood.

Sir David Steel: Quarterly surveys seeking feedback from service users have been carried out over the term of the existing contract and the results incorporated into the specified service requirement, which was issued to all tenderers. Under the Scotland Act 1998, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) is given the function of providing the Parliament, or ensuring that the Parliament is provided with, the property, staff and services required for the Parliament’s purposes. This places the responsibility for the letting of contracts with the SPCB, and it is the SPCB that would be liable for any legal challenge that ensued as the result of a contract award decision. The members of the SPCB were elected by the Parliament to carry out this function.

Parliamentary Contracts

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-25368 on 9 May 2002, what consultation there has been with trade unions in the consideration of the contract for mail services in the new Parliament building at Holyrood.

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Presiding Officer what consultations there will be with trade unions prior to final decisions being reached on the contract for mail services in the new Parliament building at Holyrood.

Sir David Steel: There has been no consultation with trade unions because the internal messenger service in the Parliament has been contracted out since 1999. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to consult with the trade union representing employees of another organisation that is tendering for a contract.